The Isle of Man's state pension age for women is set to increase, following changes in the UK.

The island's pension age for women is to rise to 65 by November 2018, 17 months earlier than planned.

The change will affect all female workers born after 5 April, 1953.

A government spokesman said the pension age for men and women would rise to 66 by October 2020 which is more than five years earlier than currently provided for.

Social Care Minister Chris Robertshaw said: "It is entirely appropriate and financially necessary that given an ageing population and increasing life expectancy, the state pension age should increase in order to manage future pensions liabilities.

"If that did not happen, future generations of taxpayers would face an unfair burden."